Electric switch.



No. 669,706. Patented Mar. I2, |901. W. F. RICHARDS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application med Nov. go, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNTTED STATES ATnNT yarriere...

WILLARD F. RICHARDS, OF BUFFALO, NEWT YORK, ASSGNOR TO CHARLES M. GOULD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRC SWITCH.

.PEIlGATIQN forming :cart Of Letters Patent No. 669,706, dated. March 12, 1901.

Application filed November 20, 1899. Serial No. 737,570. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WTLLARD F. RtcHARDs, a citizenof the United States, residing` at B uft'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new1 and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct the switch in such manner that the switchio lever is shifted from one set of contacts to the other and is brought into contact therewith by a rotary movement in a plane parallel with the face of the switchboard or base, thereby greatly simplifying the construction of the t5 switch and rendering the manipulation thereof easy and convenient.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a face view of a switch embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in 2o line 2 2, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is asection in a plane parallel with the face of the switchboard in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. et is a horizontal section in line 4.4, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is afragmentaryside elevation of the handle of the switch-lever,

showing the fixed adjusting-segment in section. Fig. 6 is a section through the handle of the switclrlever in line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the locking-bolt and. pointer of the switch-lever. Fig. 8 is a crosssection of one of the contacts and the blade of the switch-lever, showing the lever out of contact.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the'several figures.

A represents the switchboard or base, which is preferably circular in outline and constructed ofany suitable material-forinstance,slate.

B represents a post, which is secured centrally to tne face .eide of the base by screws h 4o or other means and on which the switch-level turns.

C C O2 .represent several contacts, which are secured to the face of the base around the central post B and equidistant therefrom.

The number and arrangement of these contacts may differ in different switches, as the special use for which the switch is designed may require.

The switch shown in the drawings is de- 5o signed for usein an electric-lightingapparatus for railway-cars, in which a dynamo a-nd two storage batteries a re employed. The switch is therefore provided with a comparatively long contact O for direct connection with the dynamo, two short contacts O' for connection 55 with opposite ends of the resistance which is interposed between the dynamo and the batteries., and two short contacts O2 for connection with two parts of lighting-circuit. The long Contact@ is arranged on one side of the 6o post B and the two shortl contacts C2 are arranged near each other on the opposite side of the post. The short contacts O' are arranged diametrically opposite each other, one

on each side, between the contacts O and O2. Each contact is composed of a base-jaw c, a binding-post c', formed on the base-jaw, and

a iiexiole jaw c2, which is secured with its outer portion to the base-jaw and overhangs the latter with its free inner portion, the in- 7o ner portions of both jaws being' separated by a shoulder c3, formed on the outer portion of the base-jaw. The flexible jaw is secured to the base-jaw by soldering and also, as an ad ditional safeguard, by pins c4. The basejaw is secured to the Snitch-base A by screws d or other means. Each contact is in this manner composed of two jaws which open inwardly or toward the central post.

E represents fuses which connect the bind- 8o ing-posts of the light-contacts O2 with the binding-posts e, to which the lighting-circuits are connected.

F represents the blade of the switch-lever,

F the hub, and F2 the handle thereof. The 85 hub F is mounted on the central post B,and the blade F is secured to the end of the hub nearest the base by any suitable meansfor instance, by soldering and pins. The blade F projects on diametrically opposite 9o sides from the hub F' and is of such length and arrangement with reference to the contacts that its end portions can be caused to enter between the jaws of either contact by turning the switch-lever on the post. In order to insure the tight tit of the blade between the jaws of the contacts, the blade is made slightly thicker than the space between the jaws, and in order to facilitate the entrance of the blade between the jaws the latter and roo the blade are beveled or rounded along their edges, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The handle F2 of the switch-lever is attached to thehub by an insulated connection of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings consisting of an arm g on the hub, insulating-washers g, and fasteningscrews g2, which are surrounded by insulating-sleeves g2.

In the position of the blade lF shown in Fig'. 3 the blade connects the long Contact C with both contacts C2. A short rotary movement of the switch-lever out of this position will break the contact with one of the oontacts C2 without breaking` that with the long Contact C. By turninp` the switch-lever to a position at right angles to that shown the two contacts C are connected and the contact C is disconnected from the contact C2, as shown in Fig. l. In order to hold the witch-lever in either of these positions, a segment II is secured to the base by posts 7L and bolts 7L or other suitable means. Ylhis segment is provided in its outer face with til-shaped lockingnotches h2. The switchleveris held on the segment by a bolt I, which is pressed against the outer face of the segment by a spring,y t'. The bolt and spring are seated in the handle F2 of the switch lever, and the bolt is provided with a double-beveled head by which it engages in the lockingnotches, holding the lever yieldingly in position. By applying; suilioient force tothe handle the bolt is forced out of the notch, when the lever can be moved from one position to the other. The segment overlies that part of the handle which connects with the arm g of @eef/oe the hub F. The head ot the bolt I is provided with an inwardly-taporing portion or pointer 7s, which bears against the front side of the segment, and the latter is provided with marks Z, which are arranged in line with the notches 712, so that the position of the lever can be readily ascertained by means of the pointer and marks.

The switch-lever is shifted Vfrom one set of contacts to another by a simple turning movement in a plane parallel with the face of the base.

I claim as my invention* The combination with the base, of a switchblade pivoted on the base, contacts arranged on the base around the pivot of said blade, a segment secured to said base concentric with said pivot and provided with notches in its edge and with marks on its front side correspending,` to the position of the Contacts, a handle connected with the switch-blade and arranged in rear of the segment, and a springbolt arranged in the handle and provided at its end with a catch which. is adapted to engage with the notches in the edneof the segment and with a pointer which traverses the marl s on the front side oli' the segment, substantially as set forth.

`Witness my hand this 13th day of November, 189).

W I LLARI) F. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. DONNER,

CYEsTA B. HoRNinEoK. 

